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REPORT: Beer brews up wickets in crucial CB40 victory for Sharks

15-Aug-2012

Sussex Sharks returned to the summit of Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 this evening with an impressive 17 run victory over rivals Warwickshire Bears at The PROBIZ County Ground, Hove, with Will Beer and Chris Nash both taking three wickets in a close-run finish, after the runs of Michael Yardy had given the hosts their total.

With skipper Ed Joyce winning the toss and electing to bat, the Sharks made 199 for 9 from their 40 overs as Yardy top-scored with a superb knock of 61.

When Sussex were reduced to 34 for 3 it looked as though the Bears would be well on top in this encounter but the repair job by Murray Goodwin (36) and Yardy was sufficient to take Sussex on to a competitive total, boosted by some late hitting from Kirk Wernars (37 not out). Both Chris Wright and Keith Barker took three wickets for Warwickshire.

The Bears knew that keeping wickets in hand could be the key to winning this contest with only five an over required but they hadn’t budgeted for some tight slower bowling from the hosts.

Yardy’s eight overs only went for 23 but it was the leg-spin of Beer (pictured) that really played havoc with Warwickshire’s order and he claimed figures of 3 for 27 to dislodge batsmen who were well set at the time and looked capable of carrying the visitors over the line. Jim Troughton’s 30 was the top-score for the Midlanders although five other batsmen passed 20 and couldn’t go on.

Nash also got in on the act late on and infront of a crowd of nearly 4,000 at The PROBIZ, the Sharks returned to the top of group and re-ignited their bid for a semi-final place after last week’s defeat to Derbyshire Falcons. They now travel to Yorkshire Carnegie on Sunday in the hope of stretching their lead at the top.